Whole fish
A whole fish recipe is a dish that is made with a whole fish. The fish is usually gutted and scaled before it is cooked. The head and tail may or may not be left on the fish.
Whole fish recipes have been around for centuries. They were probably first created when people started cooking fish over open fires. The first recorded whole fish recipe was found in a cookbook from the Roman Empire. This recipe called for the fish to be stuffed with garlic and herbs before it was roasted over a fire.
Whole fish recipes are popular in many parts of the world. In Asia, whole fish is often steamed or fried. It is also common to see whole fish served in a soup or stew. In Europe, whole fish is often baked or grilled.
Advice
When making whole fish, it's important to be mindful of the fact that it has a delicate texture. To ensure that the fish is cooked evenly and thoroughly, make sure to preheat your oven and use a shallow baking pan lined with foil. Use a thermometer to check for doneness and when the fish is almost cooked, brush it with melted butter or olive oil and a few herbs to add flavor. Additionally, to ensure the fish is cooked properly, cook it for 10 minutes longer than recommended to ensure the fish is cooked all the way through.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Whole Fish Roasted with Potatoes and Thyme
- salt
- lemon
- thyme
- cipollini onion
- yukon gold potato
- parsley
- black bass
- olive oil
Roasted or Grilled Whole Fish With Tomato Vinaigrette
- VINAIGRETTE
- salt
- shallot
- olive oil
- tomato
- basil
- red wine vinegar
Whole Roasted Fish With Wild Mushrooms
- olive oil
- salt
- lemon
- mushroom
- fish
- herb
- black pepper
- salt
- olive oil
Whole Fish With Soy and Citrus
- salt
- salt
- lemon
- lime lime juice
- orange
- red snapper
- cilantro
- canola oil
- soy sauce
- butter
Steamed Whole Fish With Ginger and Sesame
- salt
- chile bean paste
- sesame oil
- cilantro
- chinese sweet wine
- ginger
- soy sauce
- vegetable oil
- green onion
- fish
- garlic
Thai Grilled Whole Fish With Coriander-Chili Sauce
- cilantro
- vegetable oil
- salt
- brown sugar
- trout
- galangal
- tamarind paste
- bell pepper
- water
- red chile
- fish sauce
- lime
- garlic
Korean Pan-Fried Whole Fish
- cornstarch
- chapsal
- salt
- black pepper
- all purpose flour
- garlic
- yellow croaker
- soju
- canola oil
Baked Whole Fish in Garlic-Chile Sauce
- fish sauce
- lime
- oyster sauce
- soy sauce
- black pepper
- red snapper
- chile pepper
- brown sugar
- oil
- garlic
- lemon
Fried Whole Fish with Tomatillo Sauce
- salt
- tortilla
- fish
- cilantro
- pickled jalapeño
- vegetable oil
- tomatillo
Jessie’s Special Steamed Whole Fish
- salt
- sugar
- fish
- ginger
- green onion
- rice wine
- kimlan dark soy sauce
- onion
- sesame oil
- vegetable oil
- red thai chile
- garlic
Italian-Style Whole Roasted Fish in Herbs (Pesce al forno)
- fish
- salt
- lemon
- herb
- garlic
- olive oil
Salt-Baked Whole Fish With Fresh Herbs
- olive oil
- lemon
- fish
- salt
- water
Grilled Whole Fish With Molho à Campanha (Brazilian Pico de Gallo) Recipe
- black pepper
- salt
- olive oil
- tomato
- onion
- bell pepper
- bell pepper
- white wine vinegar
- cilantro
- parsley
- fish
Whole Roasted Fish With Fresh Herbs and Lemon Recipe
- olive oil
- herb parsley
- black pepper
- lemon
- porgy
- salt
Whole Grilled Fish with Lemon (Riba na Rostilju)
- salt
- parsley
- lemon
- olive oil
- fish
Whole Fish with Ginger
- salt
- cornstarch
- fried ginger
- mirin
- ginger juice
- vegetable oil
- all purpose flour
- cilantro
- mint
- sake
- meaty fish ocean perch
Roasted Whole Fish with Herbs
- olive oil
- salt
- mint
- rosemary
- thyme
- lemon
- garlic
- tomato
- bay leaf
- farm raised striped bass
Whole Grilled Fish with Crispy Garlic and Red Chiles
- lime
- cilantro
- vegetable oil
- soy sauce
- sherry
- banana
- red chile
- red snapper
- ginger
- green onion
- garlic
- salt
Whole Grilled Fish with Vietnamese Peanut Pesto [Kalamazoo Branded Content]
- peanut
- garlic chive
- salt
- red chili
- onion
- dark brown sugar
- red boat fish sauce
- mint
- lime
- red snapper
- peanut
- vegetable oil
- green onion
- cilantro
- lime
- garlic
Steamed Whole Fish with Dried Tangerine Peel and Fennel
- chili oil
- rice
- salt
- vegetable stock
- douchi
- fennel
- ginger
- fish porgy
- olive oil
- sake
- shiro soy sauce
- sugar
- green onion
- garlic
- tangerine
- star anise
Steamed Whole Fish with Scallions and Ginger
- salt
- peanut oil
- asian sesame oil
- chinese wine
- ginger
- soy sauce
- red snapper
- green onion
Grilled Whole Fish with Tamarind (Samaki Wa Kupaka)
- canola oil
- lime juice
- salt
- curry powder
- coriander
- tamarind paste
- cayenne pepper
- coconut milk
- fish
- ginger
- green birds eye chile
- garlic
Salt-Baked Whole Fish
- olive oil
- garlic
- salt
- lemon
- fish
- egg white
- parsley
Salt-Baked Whole Fish with Fennel and Olives
- canola oil
- fennel
- navel orange
- white wine
- chive
- picholine olife
- butter
- red snapper
- thyme
- salt
- egg white
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Staple Ingredients
- salt 54%
Usual Ingredients
- fish 29%
- lemon 29%
- olive oil 29%
- garlic 25%
- black pepper 21%
- cilantro 21%